Veronica plant named ‘Allvjewel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Allvjewel’, characterized by its upright plant habit with relatively long stems; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; dense and relatively long inflorescences with numerous white-colored flowers; and good performance as a garden plant and as a cut flower.

Botanical designation: Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ALLVJEWEL’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Allplants Holding B.V. of Cuijk, The Netherlands on Aug. 17, 2021, application number 2021/2072 and published on Oct. 15, 2021. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant, botanically known as Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata, typically grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Allvjewel’.

The new Veronica plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Cuijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new attractive Veronica plants with long inflorescences with attractive flowers.

The new Veronica plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata identified as code number 1-2013-43-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Veronica plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Cuijk, The Netherlands in July, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Veronica plant by terminal stein cuttings in a controlled environment in Cuijk, The Netherlands, since September, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Veronica plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Veronica have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Allvjewel’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Allvjewel’ as a new and distinct Veronica plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit with relatively long stems.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Dense and relatively long inflorescences with numerous         white-colored flowers.     -   5. Good performance as a garden plant and as a cut flower.

Plants of the new Veronica differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Veronica have longer stems than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Veronica have longer inflorescences than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Veronica can be compared to plants of Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata ‘Allluna’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Veronica differ primarily from plants of ‘Allluna’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Veronica have longer stems than plants of         ‘Allluna’.     -   2. Plants of the new Veronica have longer inflorescences than         plants of ‘Allluna’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Veronica are single-types         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Allluna’ are double-types.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the Veronica plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Veronica plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Allvjewel’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical inflorescences (FIG. 2)

and typical leaves (FIG. 3) of ‘Allvjewel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following description were grown in ground beds and in 20-cm containers during the summer in a outdoor nursery in Timau, Kenya and under cultural practices typical of commercial Veronica production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 23° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranged from 7° C. to 12° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica longifolia x Veronica spicata     ‘Allvjewel’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Veronica             longifolia x Veronica spicata identified as code number             1-2013-43-2, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Veronica             longifolia x Veronica spicata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stein cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 to 14 days at             temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 to 32             days at temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 30° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit with relatively             long stems and long inflorescences; overall plant shape,             narrow inverted triangle; moderately vigorous to vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 63             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 75.5             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 53.6 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about nine basal stems, each with about             two secondary branches; pinching will enhance lateral             branching. Length (excluding inflorescence): About 55.4 cm.             Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 3.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 15° from vertical. Texture             and luster: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 145A. Color, developed: Close to 146D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of three, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to narrowly ovate; moderately carinate.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Serrate; not lobed.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately to densely             pubescent; not rugose; slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Mostly glabrous with             exception of midvein which is densely pubescent; not rugose;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than a blend of             NN137A and 147A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to             146D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by             5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 145A; midvein tinged with close to             174A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single campanulate flowers             arranged on dense terminal racemes; flowers face mostly             outwardly.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 300             flowers developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower continuously from the summer until the autumn in The             Netherlands; plants begin flowering about twelve weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Inflorescences last about 30 days on the             plant and about seven to ten days as a cut flower; flowers             not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Oblong to broadly ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: Close to NN155D; developing calyx,             close to NN137C.         -   Inflorescence height (length).—About 15.1 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm by 6 mm.         -   Flower height.—About 7 mm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 3.75 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Tube diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a single whorl;             upper petal broader than the lateral and lower petals;             petals fused about 38.5% of the petal length from the base.             Length, all petals: About 6.5 mm. Width, upper petal: About             5 mm. Width, lateral petals: About 1.5 mm. Width, lower             petal: About 2 mm. Shape, upper petal: Obovate. Shape,             lateral petals: Oblong. Shape, lower petal: Obovate. Apex,             all petals: Obtuse. Margin, all petals: Entire; not             undulate. Texture and luster, all petals, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, throat and tube: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color, all petals: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D; color does not             change with subsequent development. Throat: Close to NN155D;             venation, close to NN155D. Tube: Close to NN155D; towards             the base, close to 157D; venation, similar to lamina colors.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four arranged in a single             whorl and fused at the base. Length: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm.             Width: About 1.25 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Broadly cuneate, fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN137C.             Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN137C and             NN137D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 14.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: Upright; secondary peduncles, about 25° from main             peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Densely             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A and 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Aspect: About 50° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One at the base of             each flower. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: To date, stamen development             has not been observed on plants of the new Veronica.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             7 mm. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157C to 157D. Style             length: About 6.5 mm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Ovary             color: Close to a blend of 143C and 144C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has             not been observed on plants of the new Veronica. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Veronica have     not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Veronica plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Veronica have exhibited good     garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind, temperatures     ranging from about −29° C. to about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Veronica plant named ‘Allvjewel’ as illustrated and described. 